Description
Beef Lombardi is a comforting baked pasta dish featuring wide egg noodles layered with a savory ground beef tomato mixture, creamy sour cream and cream cheese sauce, and topped with melted Colby Jack cheese. Perfect for a hearty family dinner, this recipe combines rich flavors and creamy textures in one satisfying casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 (10-ounce) cans Ro-tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pkg. (12 oz) wide egg noodles
- 1 1/4 cups sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 to 2 1/2 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Dish: Adjust your oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Beef Mixture: Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, chopped onion, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until beef is fully cooked and no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
- Add Tomato Elements: Stir in tomato paste and minced garlic, cooking until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Then add the drained diced tomatoes with green chilies and cook until most of the liquid evaporates, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook Noodles: Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the wide egg noodles and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes to achieve a tender but firm texture. Reserve 2 cups of the cooking water before draining the noodles.
- Make Creamy Sauce with Noodles: In the pot used for noodles or a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, softened cream cheese, cornstarch, and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water until smooth. Stir in the drained noodles, remaining 1 1/2 cups of cooking water, and 3/4 teaspoon salt to combine thoroughly.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the creamy noodle mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Layer the cooked beef and tomato mixture evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese evenly on top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the cheese is spotty brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of Colby Jack cheese on top depending on your preference for cheesiness.
- Draining the tomatoes helps prevent excess liquid and keeps the casserole from becoming soggy.
- Use wide egg noodles as specified for the best texture and layering effect.
- Letting the casserole cool slightly helps it set for easier serving.
- If you prefer a spicier flavor, add extra diced green chilies or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
